Think well of others

The other day somebody commented on something I did, interpreting it in a way that has not even entered my mind when I did it. My first reaction was, I was flabbergasted. As I said earlier, I did what I did without even an iota of the intention she attributed to it. Then my reaction turned to irritation as I thought how it is very easy for people to think ill of others.
A few moments later I laughed at myself (when the anger and irritation have passed), as I thought of how I was, myself thinking ill of another. She might not have meant anything when she said that remark, but I interpreted it as she thinking ill of me.
Yes, how quick we are to judge. In a way, judgment is a defense for us. It's like passing the ball to the other court.
What is the key to think well of others? I think it is self-acceptance. When I have learned to accept and to love myself, warts and all, I don't have to defend myself anymore. When others think ill of me or speak ill of me, with or without reason, I can always remind myself that I am still a "work in progress" and I have all my lifetime to dedicate to it. When I have learned to accept and to love myself, I won't feel threatened when I see others "getting the better bargain". After all, the word "better" wouldn't be necessary in my vocabulary because I would be happy if I have what I need, without judging it as better or worse than what others have.
To think well of others is not easy. Only God knows what is in the realm of my conscience. Speaking well of others and doing good to others are always something external and I may do them not out of conviction but out of a sense of duty, shame, or conformism. But to think well of others, ahhh. That is the Christian call.